bronson



No. 617,634. Patented Ian. m, I899.

, E. H. & W. G. BRONSON'.

MATCH MACHINE.-

' (Application filed Aug. 24, 1898.) I

(No Model.) V 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

INVENTO wzmesses V N0. 6l7,634. Patented Jim. [0, I899.

E. H. & W. BRONSDN.

MATCH MACHINE.

(Ap plication filed Aug. 24, 1898.) I (No Model.) 4 Sheets$heet 2.

I WITNESSES IV NTORS 4 Sheets-Sheot 3.

WEEK

No. 6|7,634. Y Pz ltenied Jan. 10, I899.

E. H. & w. a. BRONSDN.

mmrcn MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 24, 1898.)

No Model.)

.7 N J 6 z V a 7 Z ERSKIhlE H. BRQNSON -AND \VALTER G.

ZRONSON, OF OTTAXVA, CANADA.

MATCHeMACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,634, dated January10, 1899.

Application filed August 24, 1898. Serial No. 689,411. No modeld To allwhom it Hwy concern.-

Be it known thatwe, ERSKINE II. BRON- son, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, and \VALTER G. BRONSON, a citizen of the United States,both residing at Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion ofCanada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMatch-Machines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which .it appertains to make and use thesame.

parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan View ofamachine eonstructcd in accordance with our invention.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the machine, portions of the samebeing shownin section to better reveal the construction of the parts.Fig. 3 represents a transverse vertical section throughthe match-machineand a pair of cams or worms mounted therein. Fig. 4 represents a topplan view of a portion of a carrier-chain. Fig. 5 represents a sideelevation of a section of said chain. Fig. 6 represents a longitudinalvertical secrion through one of said chain-sections. Fig. 7 representsan end elevation of one of the chain-sections. 'Fig. 8 represents avertical transverse section through the same; and Fig. 0 represents avertical transverse section through the said chain,i showingstrengthening bands or cleats.

lin the drawings reprcscntsamatcl1-1nachine; 2 2,rcci1';rocati ngcutters; 3, a carricrchain; 4 4 and 5 5, feeding worms or cams foroperating the said chain.

In match-machines of this character it is desirable to be able to cut alarge number of matches at'a time and have a chain which is capable ofreceiving and holding the splints thus out. In this way it is desirableto make the matchmachine capable of more work without a greater expensein building the machine.

In carrying out the objects of our invention we employ a machineprovided with a suitable frame, as 6, upon the top of which suitableguideways, as 7, are formed for supporting and guiding a splint-carrierchain,

Upon thetop of theframewe mount longitudinal shafts, as 8 8, in suitablebearings, as 9 9, the said shafts being revolved by any suitableOrwell-known means. Near one end of the machine the feeding worms orcams, as Land 5, are rigidly secured to the said shafts 8 8. The worm 4upon one side of the machine is arranged directly opposite the worm 4:upon the opposite side of the machine, and one worm 5 is arrangedopposite the other ,worm 5 upon the opposite side of the machine. Thepairs of worms 4 and 5 are arranged at a point in the machine oppositethe places where the cutters 2 2 reciprocate and are provided withthreads or spiral projections, as 10 10, which engage the carrier-chainand move the same forward in the machine. The worms are preferablyconstructed upon such pitch with respect to the pitch or the chain thatthe chain'will be moved forward two sections at each revolution of theworms-as, for

example, a chain having a one-inch pitch would be engaged by wormshaving a twoinch pitch. By this construction the worms, as seen in thedrawings, will only engage alternate sections of the chain. Certainportions of the ribs 10 10 are made straight, as at 11 11-that is, upona plane at right angles to the axis of the shafts 88so as to hold thecarrier-chain stationary for the time required to receive the splintsfrom the cutters. cutters 22' are constructed in any well-known manner,each preferably having a cutterhead, as 12, carrying a cutter, as 13/The cutters 13 are provided with a series of cylindrical cutting edgesadapted to cut splints of The cutters maybe employed, thatshown in thedrawings comprising a pitman, as 14, operated by a crank, as-15, formedupon a powershaft 16. The cutters may be reciprocated simultaneously forcutting and carrying up the splints, or-they may be arranged to recip-'rocate alternately, so that oneis carrying up the splints, to the chainwhile the other is descending'to'cut the splints'from the blocks;

of-wood. In eithercase the cutters areso spaced apart in the machine astodeposit splints in alternate sections of the carrierchain, whereby thecutters cooperating with the action of the worms which feed the chainiorward two sections at a time may completely fill the said chain. Theblocks of wood are fed to the cutters preferably in two troughs 17 17,arranged atan angle to the cutters entering at the side of the machine.While these boxes might be arranged upon opposite sides of the machine,yet we prefer to'arrange them so as to enter the machine upon the sameside' thereof. This brings the two feeding-boxes comparatively closetogether and makes it possible for one attendant to supply blocks ofwood to both of the boxes.

In constructing a machine with double cutters operated in the mannerdescribed we find it necessary to construct a chain suitable to receivethe splints from the said cutters. The construction of our improvedchain forms an important feature of our'invention. Itcomprises sectionsmade up of two hinged portions, as 18 18, each of said portions beingprovided with half-journals, as 19 19 which enter and engage bearings,as 20, formed in suitable connecting-links, as 21. 'The meet in g facesof adjacent half-bearin gs 19 are preferably flattened, as at 22, whilethe lower edges of the said half-bearings are beveled or cut away, as at23, to permit of a slight oscillation of the half-sections 18 in thebearings 20. The links 21 of the chain are provided withupwardly-extending projections, as 24, which have recesses or aperturesformed in them, as at 25. Sliding bars, as 26, are arranged above eachsection and are formed with reduced end portions, as at 27, which areadapted to extend through the apertures 25 in the links 21. The reduced7 portions 27 of the said bars are made of suflicient length topermitot' a reciprocat extending projections, as 32 32, which projectbetween the slats 18 of the chain-sectiops, suflicient room being leftbetween the slats for this purpose. The lower ends of the projections 3232 carry studs or pins 33, which project into'and engage correspondingrecesses 34, formed in the edges of the slats 18 18. This constructioncan be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 8 of the drawings. It will beapparent from this description that upendepressing the plate 29 thestuds 33 will carry the edges of the slats 18 downwardly, the said slatsturning upon their half-journals 19 and'occupying a position asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8. This movement of course operates tospread the edges of the said slats with respect to each other, .so thatthey are ready to receive a row of match-splints between theml When thesaid plate 29 is raised again, itwill raise the adjoining edges of theslats 18 and clamp the upper ends of the match splints between them. Itwill also be apparent from the above description that upon moving thebars 26 longitudinally with respect to the sections of the chain the,slots 31 therein, engaging .the pins 30, will raise and lower the saidplate 29 to operate the slats. In order to bind the sections of thechain together more perfectly, we may also employ spanning bands orcleats, as 38. (Illustrated in Figs. 4 and 9 of thedrawings.) The bands,38 are preferably formed of flat pieces of metal having depending endportions, as 39, engaging the outer beveled edges 40 of metal pieces, as41, secured to adjacent slats 18. The engaging end portions 39 arebeveled to fit the beveled portions of the pieces 41, so as to permitthe spanning-cleats 38 to accommodate themselves to the move ment of theswinging sections 18. As the carrier-chain 3 approaches the cutters theslats should be lowered, and thus opened to receive the match-splints,and to accomplish this we form lugs, as 35, at suitable points upon theperipheries of the worms 4 and 5 to engage the ends of the sliding bars26, where-- by the said slats will be opened at the proper time toreceive 'the discharged splints from .each of the cutters. and willimmediately be closed to grip the said splints and prevent their descentwith the cutters. As seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the slidingbars2dwill first be moved in one direction to open'the slats by the lug35 upon one side of the ma-. chine, and when the splints havebeenfreceived the lug 35 on the opposite side of the machine will movethe bars 26 back again to close the sections. The match-en gaging edgesof the slats 18 arepreferably corrugated or grooved to better engage andhold the splints.

After the carrier receives its charges of matches from the cutters itpasses to suitable paraffining, heading, heating, and drying mechanisms,as in other match-machines of ordinary construction. Afterbeing suitablydried the endless chain passes hack to the splint-cutting machine,reaching the same at the opposite end of the machine from the cutters.Here the chain, descending to the machine,en gages the feeding-worms, as36,which are provided with projections 37 ,similar to the projections35, which operate the. rods 26 and open the sections of thechain,whereby the matches are dropped out,'thus leaving the,

ehain'free to receive matches again. The worms 36 are arranged uponvertical shafts mounted in suitable bearings'upon the rear end of themachine, which receive their motion through bevel-gearing, as 36, fromthe shafts 8. The gearing 3o is preferably of such a character as toimpart twicethe speed of the shafts 8 to the said worms 36. Thisenables'hs to use. only one pair of worms at the discharge end of themachine, the said worms having a pitch half that of the worms 4 and 5,so as to engage and open every section of the chain.'

While we have described and shown worms at thedischarge end of themachine of a different pitch from those at the cutters and thereforeadapted to be revolved twice as fast, yet we do not wish to beunderstood as limiting ourselves .to this construction, as we may, if

' the said worms.

on account of the intermittent feed of the.

desired, use worms at the discharge end of the same pitch as the'worms 4and 5 and therefore capable of feeding forward two sections of the chainat one revolution, In this instance it will only be'necessary to providethe said worms with two lugs instead of one in order to open all thechain-sections. This will reduce the speed of the worms at the rear tothe same velocity as the one at the front.

vOf course, as illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood thatthe links 21 connect all the sections of the chain, so as to form anendless belt or carrier.

When the cutters are arranged to reciprocate simultaneously, thecarrier-chain can be held-taut between the worms land 5; but whenthecutters are reciprocated alternately it-is necessary to arrange theworms 4 and 5 so. as to leave a slight slackin the chain between This isrendered necessary chain at the points where it receives the splintsfrom the cutters.

It will be apparent that a machine constructed in accordance withourinvention is adapted to do twice as much work as a machine employing asinglecutter and that a machine constructed in this manner, and thusable to do double quantity of work, can be constructed about as cheaplyand with as great strength as a machine having only a single cutter.When the cutters are reciprocated alternatcl y, also, the strain uponthe machine would be less than when the cutters are reciprocatedtogether. Feed-troughs also,bcing placed near together,require only one opera: tor to feed the blocks to both cutter-heads.Special advantages also accrue from the con} struction of our improvedchain, particularly in that no abutment-block is needed to sus'e'.

tain the lower end of the match-splints, as

the matches do not have to be thrust-intothe chain. them. for placingthe splints in the carrier is t us The chain opens and closes to gripThe thrust which is usually emplo ed isv done away with, and relievesthe machine, of the excessivo'strain accompanying su chthrusts. It willalso be noted that a knockerblock or ejector is not necessary to emptyt-he chain of its load of splints,

While we have described our specialchan,

acter of conveyer-chain as adapted to be 0perated in a machine which weprefer--name1y, one operating two cross-heads or sets of cuttersyet wedo .not wish to be understood-as limiting ourselves in this matter, asarchain of our construction can be used advantageously in a machineoperating only one'cross-head.

or cutter, as in this case it would only be j necessary to feed thechain forward one see tion at each revolution of the cutters. I

Having now described op'r invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is r v 1. In a match-machine, the combination0t independent cutter-heads a carrier-chain made up of a seriesofsections connecte'd't'or gather and tr g rom. onecuttenhead to theother, the said cutter-heads being timed so that one inserts splints inseparate sections of the carrier-chain and the other. inserts splintsinto the intervening sections substantially as described.

2. In a match-machine,-the combination 1 with a carrierfchainhaving aseries of sec tions, ofa plurality of independent cutter-' headscarryingsplint-cutters, the said chainpassing across the paths'of' the saidindependent cutter-heads and means for reciprocating the cutter-headsalternately, some of the heads placing the splintsin separate sectionsofthe chain while the others place splints in the intervening sections,substantially as described.

' In a match-machine, the combination of independent cutter-heads, acarrier-chain having sections for receiving splints and trav cling fromone cutterhead to the other, worms for feeding the chain forward so thatone cutter-head will place splints in separate sections of the chain,while the other inserts I splints into the intervening sections of thesaid chain, substantially as described.

1 4. In a match-machine, the combination of independent cntter-heads,',acarrier-chain having a series of sections and traveling across the pathsof the cutter-heads from one to the other, worms having inclinedportions and straight iihrtions for feeding the carrierchain with anintermittent movement, the cutter-headsbeing so timed that one insertssplints in separate sections {10f the carrier,

4 emcee while the other inserts splints in the remainin g sections,substantially as described.

5. In a match-machine, the combination of independent cutterheads, acarrierchain having a series of sections and traveling from onecutter-head to the other, worms for feeding the carrier chain forwardand means upon the said worms for opening the sections of the chain atthe proper time to receive splints from the cutters, the said cutters being timed so that one inserts splints in 'sep arate sections of thechain, while the other inserts splints in the remaining sections,substantially as described.-

6. In a match-machine, a carrier comprising two parallel sets of linksand cross-slats having end pivots at one edge which connect the links,the opposite edge of each slat coacting with that of the next slat toform splintgripping faces, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a match-machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, of anendless carrier-chain comprising sections formed of hinged slats, areciprocating bar mounted above the said slats, means connected with thesaid bars for opening and closing the said slats, Worms for feeding thesaid carrierchain, and means upon the said Worms for operating theslat-openingbars, substantially as described.

' 8. In a match-machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, ofan endless carrier-chain comprising slats having segmental journals,links connecting the said slats and inclosing the said segmentaljournals, means for moving the slats up and down upon the said journals,whereby their meeting edges will be spread apart to receive the splintsfromthe cutters, substantially as described.

9. In a match-machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, of acarrier-chain comprising hinged slats, links connecting the same,longitudinal bars mounted in the said links above the said slats andhaving slots formed in them, a vertically-moving plate mounted in thesaid slot and engaging the said slats for opening and closing the sameto receive and discharge the splints,.substantially as described.

10. In a match-machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, ofan endless carrier-chain comprising hinged slats, links connecting thesaid slats, longitudinally-moving bars having reduced end portionsengaging apertures formed in the said links, the said bars beingprovided with elongated slots, vertically-movingslides moving in thesaid slots and provided with pins engaging angular slots formed in thesaid bars, and depending portions formed upon the said slide andprovided with pins engaging recesses in the slats, the constructionbeing such that when the bars are moved in one direction, they willdepress the slide and thus open the slats and when the bars are moved inthe opposite direction, they will raise the slide and close the slats,substantially as described.

11. 'In a match-machine, the combination with reciprocating cutters, ofa carrier-chain mounted therein, said chain comprising hinged slats,longitudinally-moving bars arranged above the said slats and connectedtherewith, Worms -for feeding the chain forward, and lugs formed uponthe said worms and adapted to move the said bars longitudinally foroperating the slats, substantially as described,

12. In a matchmachine, the combination with a cutting mechanism, of acarrier-chain comprising sets of links and cross-slats havin g adjacentedges pivoted upon common centors in the said links, their oppositeedges coacting with the edges of the adjacent slats in the chain to formsplint-gripping surfaces.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aiiix our signatures in presence ofwitnesses.

ERSKINE H. BRONSON. WALTER G. BRONSON. Witnesses to signature of E. II.Bronson:

W. F. GOODWIN, P. S. ToWLn. Witnesses to signature of W. G. Bronson:

J. GENEREUX.

